Amid the ongoing devastation from the multiple wildfires happening across Los Angeles, a number of the city’s most beloved businesses and institutions have been impacted, if not destroyed entirely. According to a preliminary estimate by AccuWeather, the fires are expected to cost California up to $57 billion in damages and economic loss.
As Fashionista reports, Elyse Walker, whose eponymous flagship boutique is something of a Pacific Palisades (where the first wildfire broke out on Tuesday morning) fashion institution, is one of many business owners that had to watch as years of hard work was reduced to ash and embers.
“I am beyond heartbroken by the devastation the fires caused in the beautiful town of Pacific Palisades. Like so many others, we were severely impacted as we lost our flagship Elyse Walker Pacific Palisades in the fires,” she said in a statement shared to Instagram. “And while that is an incredible loss, I am thankful that our staff is safe and remains unharmed.”
Having moved with her husband from New York to the small California town in 1996, Walker opened her 836-square-foot luxury-focused shop in 1999. Shortly thereafter, the store became a go-to destination for local residents looking to shop designers like Alaïa, Saint Laurent and more without having to leave the comfort of their community.
In 2007, the store expanded to 6,552 square feet to meet the demands of its elite clientele, including stars like Cindy Crawford, Kate Hudson and Jennifer Garner. Today, Elyse Walker carries more than 230 brands — both established and emerging names — and has become one of the highest-performing multi-brand boutiques in the United States, according to WWD.
“25 years ago, I opened my first store in the Palisades, and it quickly became more than just my business, it became my community. I built my business there, raised my kids there and made relationships there where friends, clients and colleagues became like family,” Walker continued in her statement. “While we take time to heal, there is one thing I am confident in — this community always shows up for each other […] Together we will mourn, heal and eventually rise up.”
The brand has three other stores in California (Newport Beach, Calabasas and St. Helena) in addition to locations in New York (Tribeca and the Upper East Side). In 2012, Walker partnered with Revolve to launch the first iteration of e-retailer Fwrd. She left the company in 2018 to launch her own site, elysewalker.com.
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